When getting to know my family, the first thing people notice is that my daughter is adopted and that my kids are six months apart. Naturally, there are questions, and yes! We are that family that you hear about that tried to have children on their own, couldn’t, then decided to adopt and then poof!

As a former practicing Obstetrician, I know the power of kick counting and educated my patients on this life-saving method during the third trimester of pregnancy. This is exactly why, in my current role as the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director, I wanted to partner with Count the Kicks, a proven stillbirth prevention public health campaign.

Our mission to save babies is only going to amplify in 2018. In the coming year, Count the Kicks will take a highly targeted approach to reaching at-risk and underserved moms who are more likely to lose a baby — and some startling statistics sparked the refinement of our approach.